MLC: Rovman Powell leads Los Angeles Knight Riders to maiden final with seven-run victory over San Francisco Unicorns | Cricket News
The Los Angeles Knight Riders wrote history on Wednesday by reaching their first ever Major League Cricket (MLC) final after defeating the San Francisco Unicorns by seven runs in Qualifier 1 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland.Run half-centuries from Colin Munro, Andre Russell and a late blitz from Rovman PowellLAKR posted 187/3 before holding off a spirited chase led by Matthew Short and Sanjay Krishnamurthi.Despite the loss, the San Francisco Unicorns stayed alive in the tournament. They will play the Challenger against the winner of the Eliminator for a place in the final.
Munro, Russell set the platform
Asked to bat first after the San Francisco Unicorns won the toss, the Los Angeles Knight Riders lost to Andre Fletcher for seven in just the second over.Colin Munro strengthened the innings with a composed 51 off 44 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes. He shared a crucial 96-run stand with Andre Russell, who anchored the innings with an unbeaten 62 off 50 deliveries.The biggest shift in momentum came in the final overs when Rovman Powell came on. The West Indies batsman smashed an unbeaten 50 off just 15 balls, hitting two fours and six sixes at a remarkable strike rate of 333.33.Powell and Russell added an unbeaten 57 runs off just 19 deliveries to lift LAKR to a challenging 187/3 in 20 overs.For the Unicorns, Ghulam Mudassar claimed 2/42, while captain Matthew Short took one wicket.
Narine attacks early but Short revives the Unicorn
The San Francisco Unicorns have suffered a terrible start to the chase. Sunil Narine removed Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Finn Allen in the opening three deliveries, reducing the Unicorns to 1/2.Captain Matthew Short rebuilt the innings with Sanjay Krishnamurthi. The pair added a brilliant 151-run partnership, which brought the chase back on track.Short remained unbeaten on 94 from 62 balls, hitting 10 fours and two sixes, while Krishnamurthi made an excellent 65 from 47 balls with six boundaries and three sixes.However, Shadley van Schalkwyk removed Krishnamurthi in the 18th over before removing Aaron Hardie late in the innings. The wickets proved decisive as the Unicorns finished on 180/4, falling seven runs short.Narine returned figures of 2/28, while van Schalkwyk also claimed two wickets.
Powell was named Player of the Match
Powell was named Player of the Match for his explosive unbeaten fifty.Reflecting on his knock, Powell said he would have graded higher in the earlier innings.“I still think the 73 at Pomona was the better innings. Now it’s a little fun, you know, the fans got their money’s worth.He credited Munro and Russell for setting up the innings.“Yeah, we always talk as a batting group and say we don’t want to lose wickets in clusters. The two guys batting at the top of the order, number three, and Dre, they played really well. They set the platform for me to go and do what I do. Like I said, it’s good to be in the final.Speaking about hitting a challenging face, Powell added: “I just got the clarity. And when I went to bat, I had no choice but to do what I did. But it’s good to get some off the bat, from the middle. As a batter, you always look to play those kinds of innings.”On reaching the franchise’s first MLC final, Powell said: “Yes, it means everything. This is a franchise that has not yet qualified for the playoffs, and now we are in the final, one step away from our ultimate goal. It’s just for us now to rest tomorrow, plan, see how the game is going today, and see how well we can go out and make a show for ourselves and the franchise.”
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